Pneumatic governor.



H. W. CHENEY.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION r1150 APR. 27. 1910.

1,215,621. Patented Feb.13,1917.

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H. W. CHENEY.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

Patented 111-1111311917.

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H. W. CHENEY.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION r1120 APR. 21. 1910.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- mr Nrwms PEYERs co www.maa. WASHINGTON. u c

H. W. CHENEY.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED APILZI. 1910.

1,215,621. Patented Feb. 13,1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. W. CHENEY.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. 1910.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 H. W. CHENEY.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.-

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 19m.

1,215,621. Patented Feb.13,1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT W. CHENEY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAVIARE.

PNEUMATIC GOVERNOR.

Application filed April 27, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT W. CHENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic GQVGYHOIS, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to governors for fluid pressure systems and particularly to that type of governor which includes an electric switch together with suitable means for operating the switch so as to close or open the circuit of an electric motor which drives a compressor when the fluid pressure varies beyond certain predetermined limits.

The object of this invention is to improve the operation of fluid pressure governors, and to provide a governor of durable and compact construction.

The various novel features of this invention will be apparent from the description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and parts being removed, of a governor embodying my invention, the switch being closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the switch in open position.

Fig. 3 is another side elevation of my governor looking from the opposite side.

Fig. L is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the lines el4 of Fig. 2 and 4t l of Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

F 5 is a bottom elevation of the same governor.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the governor, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the same governor showing the .contact mechanism.

The body portion 10 of this fluid pressure governor comprises a boXlike structure forming a comparatively large fluid receiving chamber in which is located the main portion of the switch operating mechanism, a tubular portion 11 for the reception of an energy storing member to be referred to presently, a bracket portion, 12 forming a support for a movable contact member, and two covers, one (not shown) for the side and one 18 for the bottom.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Serial No. 558,051.

Located within the tubular portion 11 is a cylindrical guiding member 1-1 and a screw 15 provided with a hollow portion 16 which cooperates with the guiding member 14 in receiving and holding in position an energy storing member or spring 17. The screw 15 is turned into the tubular portion 11, and a locknut 18, also engaging a threaded portion of the screw 15, is screwed onto this threaded member 15 up to a point where the nut 18 engages the end of the tubular member 11. To provide a. flat pressure surface for working the spring 17, a disk 19 is provided with a projecting portion 20 which fits snugly into the inner portion of one end of the energy storing member or spring 17. Engaging this disk 19 are two more disks 20 which in turn. are in engagement with a plunger 21 having a piston 22 and rod 23 one end of which rod slides and is supported in the bored part of a projection 2a of the main body. The other end of the rod 23 is connected to the piston 22 which is provided with a leather packing ring 25 to make a snug fit in the cylindrical guiding member 147. Openings have been provided in the screw 15 and nut 18 so that air might escape should any leak past the piston 22. The piston 22 is adapted to transmit fluid pressure for the purpose of storing energy in the spring 17 and is assisted by two springs 26 and 27 which are mounted upon the rod 23 and also act as buffers. The position of one of these springs 27 may be changed by adjusting one set 28 of the collars 28 and 29 respectively, which engage av threaded portion of the rod 23. The liniiting movement of this red 23 in one direction is regulated by a screw 30, which engages a tapped portion 31 of the projection 24. The limiting movement of this rod 23 in the other direction is dependent upon the maximum pressure to which the piston 22 and spring 17 are subjected. This spring or energy storing member 17 which is compressible to a varying extent by variations in fluid pressure can be adjusted by the screw 15 to give a greater or less movement of the piston 22 and rod 23 within the same limits of fluid pressure.

The switch operating mechanism is located and supported within the fluid receiving chamber. Fastened to the bottom of the fluid receiving chamber are two cylinders 32 and 33 respectively in which are located pistons 3 and 35 respectively. The pistons 3i and are connected to a cross arm 36 which is secured to, and turns with, a pin 38. An arm 39 mounted on the pin 38 and having a foiled end portion lO is provided with elongated openings ll for the reception of projecting portions 42 of a collar 43 which is mounted loosely on the rod 23 and is interposed between the springs 26 and 27. tion transmitted by the pistons and 35 causes the arm to be shifted to such position as to compress one of the springs or 27 depending upon the positions of the pistons, these springs acting as resilient buffers for the arm 39; and, although the spring 17 and the pressure exerted on the piston 22 are relied on mainly as the operating means for the rod 23, it will be ap parent that these spring buffers are effective to transmit a force tending to shift the rod .Surrounding the pin 38 are one or more springs l having ends a5 and :5 re spectivcly. One end d5 of the spring is engaged by another pin 4-6 connected to a crank l-i' which is keyed to the pin 38. The other end 4l5 of the spring engages pin d3 located in a shoe 49 of a valve to be referred to presently. When the crank 4-7 is moved with the arm 39 the pin l6 turns one of the ends of the spring, thereby winding it and storing energy therein.

The cylinders 32 and 33 register with ports 50 and 51 respectively which are adapted to register in turn with the fluid receiving chamber and with an air passagein the slide 53 of the valve 5%. Communicating with the air passageway 52 is an exhaust port 55 through which air is exhausted from the cylinders 32 and 33 alternately. interposed between the slide 53 and the shoe l is a spring 56 which presses the slide firmly against the valve seat 5'? in opposition the pressure of air passing through the passageway 52 in the slide Secured to the pin 48 of the shoe is a finger which is pressed upwardly by a spring 59 against the projection 61 of a support 60. This finger 58 has a projecting portion 62 which locks the reciprocatory slide of the valve in certain positions. The valve tripping device consists of a sys tem of links and levers pivoted together. A latch 63 of the tripping mechanism is pivoted to the support (50 and to a link 6 which is pivoted in turn to an arm 65. This arm is also pivoted in the upper part of the support and has a follower portion (56 which is interposed between collars 2S and The other end of the arm (35 engages a pin 67 on the arm 39 for setting the switch operating mechanism in its starting position, as indicated in Fig. 1. In order to trip the slide of the valve the latch 63 is provided with two projections 68 and 69 respectively, which are adapted to engage the projection (32 of the finger 53. This operating mechanism is adapted to control the valve to govern the operation of the pistons 35: and 35 which transmit motion to the arm or switch lever 39.

The switch proper '70, which comprises a movable contact 71 and a stationary contact 72, is located exterior to the fluid receiving chamber and is shown in Fig. 3. The stationary contact is secured to an insulating block 73 which is fastened to the body of the governor. The movable contact finger it is pii'otally mounted on a pin 75 which received by a supporting member 76 which in turn is pivotally mounted on a pin 77 located in a bracket '78. This bracket is secured to an insulating support 79 which is also fastened to the body of the governor. in order to transmit motion to the movable contact finger T l another crank 80 is mounted on the pin 38 and is connected to link 31 which. is pivot d to an insulating support 82, upon which the movable contact finger 7% rests. This insulating support 82 is pivoted on the same pin 75 about which the movable contact finger 7 L rotates. A spring 83 interposed between the support 7 6 and contact finger T l presses the latter sulficiently to cause good contact between the sta ionary and movable contacts. When the switch is made to open, an arc is formed between the stationary and movable contacts. To destroy this are a blast of air is directed across its path, the air being conveyed from the exhaust port 55 by a conduit S t.

Having described in general the construction of my fluid pressure governor, its operation will be considered. The fluid pressure governor, as indicated in Fig. 1, is set in its original or starting position. In order to set the governor in this position, one end of the arm 65 is brought into contact with the pin 6'? of the arm 39. High pressure air from an air compressor is led into the air receiving chamber by a pipe 85. This compressed air enters one of the air cylinders 33 through its port 51 which as shown at 51 in Fig. 1 is open to said air receiving chamber, and also exerts pressure against the piston 22 forcing the coils of the spring 17 closer together, thereby storing energy therein, and also presses effectively downward on the upper surface of piston The compressed air which is forced into the cylinder 33 is used for equalizing purposes to assist in forcing the piston 34- down at this stage. Three surfaces, therefore, are effective in transmitting energy during this stage of the cycle. They are the exposed surface of the piston 22, the outer or upper surface of the piston 34, and the inner or under surface of piston 35, the latter surface of which however, acts as an equalizing surface. The arm 39 which is connected through linkages to the piston 35 compresses spring 26 which cooperates with the piston 22 in compressing the energy storing member 17. As the air pressure gradually increases, the piston 22. and the rod 23, to which it is connected, move further into the guiding member 14, and the collar 29, which is mounted onthe rod 23, forces the follower 66 in the same direction. As the follower 66 moves in this direction it turns about its pivotal point andforces the arm 65, of which it is a part, downwardly. During this operation the end of the arm which engages the pin (37 moves in a manner to disengage itself therefrom, and the projection 68 of the latch 63 presses downwardly on the projecting portion 62 of the finger 58. Just at the point when the pressure has reached its maximum, the projection 68 forces the projection 62 of the finger 58 down to the outer extremity of the projection 61, and due to the energy stored in the spring 44 the shoe 49, which is engaged by one end of this spring, is

forced to the right carrying the slide 53 with it. This valve'now occupies the position indicated in Fig. 2, the lower side of piston 35 being connected to exhaust port 55 through port 51, and the lower side of piston 34 being connected to the interior of the main casing through the port 50, thus permitting the admission of air under pressure to the cylinder of the latter piston and the exhaustion of air from the cylinder 33 and causing actuation of the pin 38 in a direction to cause opening of the switch 74:, breaking the operating circuit of the pump-driving motor and stopping the pump. This same actuation of the pin 38 also causes the shifting of the arm 39 to the position indicated in Fig. 2 wherein the arm bears on and compresses the abutment spring 27, and causes the pin 46 to engage the spring end 45 shifting the spring end 45 into engagement with the pin 48 and tensioning the spring in the opposite direction.

The air exhausted from the cylinder 33 is conveyed through the pipe 84 to the contacts 71 and 72 and is effective to extinguish any are formed on separation of the contacts. 2

As the pressure of the air in the main chamber decreases, the piston 22 and its rod 23 are forced back toward their original positions by the energy which is stored in the spring 17. The arm 39, acting through the compressed spring 27, assists the spring 17 in gradually forcing the rod 23 back into its original position. As the rod 23 moves back the follower 66 is also carried, thereby raising the link 64 and causing the latch projection 69 to engage the projection 62 of the finger 58. At the point of minimum air pressure the projection 69 forces the projection 62 of the finger down beyond the projection 61, and due to the energy which is again stored in the spring '44, the valve operating mechanism and valve are moved back to their first positions thus causing closure of the switch 74 to again start the pump in operation, and also causing shifting of the arm 39 to the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The operation of my governor may be controlled by predetermined conditions not mentioned specifically and it is my intention to include all such means of control; there may be many modifications in the precise form and arrangement herein shown and described and I aim to cover all such modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims What I claim as new is:

1. In combination, a switch, means for operating said switch. comprising a plural ity of pistons, a valve for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said pistons, means comprising an element movable in response to predetermined fluid pressure conditions for causing the operation of said controlling valve, and means comprising an operative connection between said pressure responsive element and said switch operating means independent of said valve for causing said switch operating means to assist in the operation of said pressure responsive element.

2. In a fluid pressure governor, the co1nbination of a switch, actuating means therefor comprising a fluid pressure operated piston, a member movable with said piston, a valve for controlling the movements of said piston, valve actuating means, an energy storing member, a rod movable by said latter member, means for flexibly connecting said first member and said rod and permitting said first member to assist in the movement of said rod, and connections between said rod and said valve actuating means for rendering said valve actuating means effective.

3. In combination, a switch having fixed and movable contacts, fluid actuated means for operating said switch, said means including a plurality of pistons one side of each of which is exposed to the same pressure at any instant, a valve for controlling the passage of actuating fluid to and from said pistons, a duct adapted to communicate with the cylinder of one of said pistons for carrying exhaust fluid therefrom to said contacts to destroy arcs formed on the separation of said contacts, said valve simultaneously aifording communication between said latter cylinder and said duct and connecting the cylinder of another of said pistons to the source of actuating fluid, and means operable in response to variations in fluid pressure for causing the actuation of said valve.

4-. In a fluid pressure governor, a casing, an element within said casing and movable in response to the pressure of fluid. in said casing, an energy storing device adaptedto absorb energy from and transmit energy to said movable element, acircuit controlling switch, operating means for said switch comprising a piston having one side open to the fluid within said casing, a valve for controlling communication between the interior of said casing and the other side of said piston, and means operable by said movable element on the occurrence of predetermined pressure conditions within said casing for causing the operation of said valve.

5. In a fluid pressure governor, the combination of a casing, an element within said casing and movable in response to the pressure of fluid in said casing, a circuit controlling switch, operating means for said switch comprising a piston, a valve for controlling the admission of actuating fluid from said casing to said piston, means for actuating said valve comprising a spring operatively associated with said switch and placed under stress on operation of said switch, a latch for holding said valve-actuating means against operation, and means operable by said. movable element for causing the release of said latch.

6. In a fluid pressure governor, a casing, an element within said casing and movable in response to the pressure of fluid in said casing, a circuit controlling switch, operating means for said switch comprising a piston having one side exposed to the fluid in said casing, a valve for controlling communication between the interior of said casing and the other side of said piston, and means operable by said movable element on the occurrence of predetermined pressure conditions within said casing for causing the op eration of said valve.

7. In a fluid pressure controller, the com.-

bination of a switch, means for actuating said switch comprising an operating shaft and a piston for actuating said shaft, a member movable in response to Variations in fluid pressure, one side of said piston being continually exposed to the same pressure as said movable member, a valve for controlling communication between the other side of said piston and either operating pressure or exhaust, means for actuating said valve comprising resilient means associated with said switch operating means, latching means for holding said valve against operation, and means actuated by said movable member for controlling said latching means.

8. In a fluid pressure controller, the combination of a switch, means for actuating said switch comprising an operating shaftand a plurality of pistons for actuating said shaft, one side of said pistons being exposed to the same pressure at any instant, a valve for controlling communication between the other side of each piston and either operat ing pressure or exhaust, and a member movable in response to variations in fluid pressure for causing the operation of said valve. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 21, 1910. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT W. CHENEY.

l/Vitnesses:

(Inns. L. BrRoN, Gno. B. Sci-nary.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Eommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

